Madrid, December 2017 - Andersen Tax & Legal and Ramco have reached an agreement to finance all proceedings under the legal management of Andersen Tax & Legal in Spain against truck manufacturers sanctioned by the European Commission in July 2016.

The European Commission announced a fine of almost €3 billion to certain lorry manufacturers for agreeing to price-fixing for medium and heavy-duty trucks (over 6 and 12 tonnes respectively), delaying the introduction of new emission technologies and transferring costs of EU emissions standards. This sanction was the highest for infringement of competition law imposed by that body.

Subsequently, in September 2017, the manufacturer SCANIA was included by the Commission as a cartel participant with a fine of EUR 880 million, totalling almost EUR 4 billion.

The manufacturers affected, in addition to SCANIA, are MAN, VOLVO/RENAULT, DAIMLER GROUP, IVECO and DAF, who have been sentenced to joint and several liabilities, i.e. each one of them will be liable for all damages caused by any of them.

Iñigo Rodríguez-Sastre, partner in charge of the litigation area of Andersen Tax & Legal's Madrid and Valencia offices, points out that through the agreement with RAMCO, truck owners who wish to file a complaint with the legal department of Andersen Tax & Legal will benefit from very favourable conditions, since they will be freed from all types of costs for the processing of the legal proceedings in all instances, including the issuing of expert reports.

José María Rebollo, partner in charge of litigation at the Barcelona office of Andersen Tax & Legal, beleives that the bulk of claims will be filed during the first months of 2018 and encourages truck owners of these brands to contact their nearest Andersen Tax & Legal office to inform themselves of the agreement without obligation.

Isabel Martínez, head of the competition law area, and Santiago Gastón de Iriarte, partner of the corporate area, indicate from Andersen Tax & Legal's Madrid office that the damage claimed by the owner of the truck will depend on the circumstances of each case, but that within the agreement with RAMCO, prestigious international firms in damage assessment will be responsible for carrying out the corresponding valuation.

Andersen Tax & Legal is a member firm of Andersen Global, an international association of legally separate, independent member firms comprised of tax and legal professionals around the world. Established in 2013 by U.S. member firm Andersen Tax LLC, Andersen Global now has more than 2,500 professionals worldwide and a presence in over 84 locations through its member firms and collaborating firms.